Justin W. Powell

Canon EOS 40D at 2008-03-09
By fusionjunkie at 2008-02-18
By fusionjunkie at 2008-02-18

Justin W. Powell is currently the keyboard player for acoustic rockers The John Wasem Band and fusion/prog ensemble Land of Atlantis in Chicago, IL. He also works as a studio musician in the Chicago, IL area. He loves music so much that about 5 years ago he quit his job as a fine wine wholesaler to get a degree in jazz piano and music industry. This has been a return to his first love. As a young person, he studied classical piano and organ for 14 years, with the likes of Andrew Walker, Drucilla Engle, Duncan MacMillan, and other prominent instructors in the Orlando, FL area. He also studied voice with Murray Summerville, organist and choirmaster at Harvard University. For the last 5 years, Justin has studied with IAJE award winning jazz composer and performer, Pavel Wlosok at Western Carolina University. During the last 5 years he has also shared the stage with: The Count Basie Orchestra, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Mother Vinegar, hip-hop artists Dirty5Thirty, Stellar Road, afro beat ensemble The Afromotive, 56 Hope Road, and The Hue. On the jazz front he has performed with jazz greats Bobby Watson (solo artist ;Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers), Gary Smulyan (solo artist; Village Vangaurd), Mike Mcgirk, drummer Jon Riley(Miles Davis ,Woody Herman, Vangaurd Jazz Orchestra, Bob Mintzer, etc.), Raquelle Whitside- Scott (vocalist for USAF ’Falconaires’ Band for 10 years), Chris Cheek (Bill Frisell, Brad Meldhau, & Rutter), and Andrew Clausen (Ray Charles, many Broadway shows). Justin has performed with all of these musicians in clinics as well. Justin W. Powell has been a major player in the Western North Carolina music scene doing a two year run as solo pianist at Spring St. Café in Sylva, NC. Listed in Justin’s top friends you will find bands he’s recorded with, performed with, as well as bands he likes. John Wasem Band performs as a solo, duo (w/ various soloists) or as a 4, 5, and even 6 piece acoustic/electric rock band. The John Wasem Band is a conglomerate of rising stars, which can easily be put side by side with the best, both locally and nationally. The present line-up includes Matthew Longbons (bass), John Maloney (drums), Justin Powell (keys) and Marcus Rezak (electric guitar). Together, they have played such major Chicago venues as the House of Blues, Double Door, Martyrs’, Kinetic Playground, The Abbey Pub, Cubby Bear and many more clubs across the midwest. In addition, JWB has toured both coasts and was a resident performer at the historic Wise Fools Pub for the past 4 years. John Wasem Band is currently working hard on a follow up album, and Land of Atlantis will be recording at IV Lab studios in march. Formed in 2007, Land of Atlantis is made up from some of the region’s finest young musicians. This top-notch instrumental jazz/rock fusion group’s lineup includes: on Rhythm guitar Dan Rucinski, bassist Josh Hanchar, drummer Nemanja Djorovic, his identical twin brother/lead guitarist Nikola Djorovic, and Justin w. Powell ..boards. Each are talented musicians years beyond their age. Nikola Djorovic is one of only seven finalists to compete in the national round of Guitar Center’s 2005 Guitarmaggedon contest and has appeared in Guitar World Magazine. Bringing together just about every style of music into one group of musicians with compositions that make sense to the listener is why Land of Atlantis is one of the few unique bands Chicago has to offer. From Metal to Latin Jazz, through world music around to bebop and back; Land of Atlantis is a band to watch in the coming months.
By fusionjunkie at 2008-02-18